Place: Reviews & Ratings

The wife and I were driving back to our hotel in Danbury, CT, from the Craft House bar in Harrison, NY, if I’m not mistaken. Looking at the different routes to get back to CT I spotted Holy Smoke, checked out the tap list and decided we must go there ASAP! Ten Fidy on tap, and Avery Samael, and more goodies.

So we get there after a short drive in a pitch-black road and pull up to this nondescript bbq joint that is almost empty and about to close at around 9pm on a Wednesday. Kind of weird-creepy, stumbling upon a world-class draught list seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

The killer tap list included not only Ten Fidy and Samael but Lagunitas Sucks, Dogfish Kvasir, St Bernardus 12, Mald Elf 2013. Most of these brews are served in 10.5-oz glasses and have outrageous prices. Ten Fidy was $10.25, St Bernardus was $12, Dogfish at $11.75 and Samael, ladies and gentleman, $17 for 10.5 oz. Believe it! Officially the most expensive beer on draft I have ever had.

The bourbon list is equally stunning and much cheaper, and the service is real nice. They also have some cool bottles, such as Old Ruffian, J.W. Lees 2007 Port and Kuhnhenn.

The kitchen was already closed so we didn’t get to try the bbq (not a big fan of ‘cue anyways). If you can afford this place, by all means check it out. Where else can you have a $17 glass of Avery Samael 2013?? (1,370 characters)

The place has a dated feel...everything is light pine planked paneling probably from the 1960's. Bar only seats maybe 8 people, very cramped. Beer choice is solid, mostly high gravity west coast hoppy beer and a cross-section of Belgians. Service can be spotty at times and on the pricey side, but the food is excellent. (320 characters)

I have been going to Holy Smoke since it has opened. You never leave hungry or thirsty. Without a doubt the best barbecue food in the area. Portions are huge pretty much guaranteeing you will have lunch the next day. There is always a great selection of beers on tap. No need to be shy or intimidated by the large selection of beers. Small samples are provided on request for free and multi glass flights are available for order. Service is friendly and excellent. Chris (the owner) and his staff go out of their way to make everyone feel welcomed and part of the family. I would also recommend attending any one of their special events or beer dinners as I have never been disappointed. Very happy to have Holy Smoke as part of the Mahopac community... Keith C. (762 characters)

Although the beer choices are excellent, the prices are outrageous for the area. Last time I was there, 64 oz. Growler fills cost the same as 3 beers purchased for on-site consumption and I don't believe anybody gets a buy back. Even the regulars. The place hasn't changed one bit since it's been open. Same old furniture same old everything. It looks like the owner hasn't spent a dime improving the place. Although the food is pretty good, the smoker is in the basement so when you walk out of there, you smell like barbeque. Bottom line - this place has run its course. There are many many other places that have good barbeque and good beer and won't make you wash your clothing and replenish your bank account after you've visited. (735 characters)

Traveling through the woods of Mahopac, you may come across this BBQ and craft beer joint. For those on this site, who enjoy barbeque food, this is a great place to check out at some point or another. They serve great craft beer, with taps including Troegs, Brooklyn, St. Bernardus, Green Flash, Victory, etc. and a pretty good bottle list. And that BBQ food, is damn good. From the pulled pork to the ribs, it hits the spot. And they have selections like salmon, steak or burgers for other food options. The owner knows his beer and is often on-premise. And when the weather gets warmer, they have some outdoor seating too. Nice place to eat and enjoy a beer, wish it was closer. (680 characters)

I have been here many times...my most recent was for the Oskar Blues and Weyerbacher series night on 11/12/11.What a fantastic BBQ joint! The food is amazing. I grew up in Mahopac and was thrilled (but skeptical) when this place opened. It has deff improved since it opened (not that it was bad to begin with), but now its top notch. Huge portions and nice variety. One of the only places where you can get pulled chicken. They make homemade bbq sauce, and have unique apps and dishes. It truly has that local feel as Mahopac is a big little town...if you grew up/live in and around Mahopac, you will probably run into someone you know any given night.

But now for the beer...They always impress with their rotating tap selection. I think its like 24 or so?? Plus nice bottle list.They have several series events throughout the year; the most recent, Weyerbacher and Oskar Blues, was great. And these events get crazy packed, so get there early. They have reps from the breweries selling the beer as well. I have also been to the Victory event a while back which was great.

Its a little off the beaten path if you dont live in Mahopac or Put Valley, but deff worth a trip out no matter where you are.

BBQ and beer...life doesn't get much better than that combination....well, yeah it does. At Holy Smoke. I've been here half a dozen times, and have had everything on the menu. The reason being; I always order the PigNic. It feeds 4 (maybe 5) and you STILL walk out with another 2+ meals in your piggy bag. A tap beer menu with 24 rotating brews, a bottle list out the friggin' wazoo and yet another for bourbons. Sent my girlfriend over the other night with two growlers, because yup, they'll fill em. Told her to surprise me and she came back with Victory Smokin' Oats and Stone Russian Imperial Stout. Hey, it's still kinda cold out and these two choices were perfect. Plus she brought me some baby backs, pulled pork and onion rings. I love her... (750 characters)

You gotta check this place out. The food (you'll be bringing some home in a doggie bag)More than enough for the buck...The beer, forget about it..You can taste and learn all about each. The big guy who owns the place doesnt leave and knows everything and anything about all the brew...Besides, he is a great big guy who has a passion for it....Dont forget to buy a t-shirt (a bit humorous if you know what I mean)...Great atmoshpere,good food, good people and great brew's...What else is there?...

Holy Smoke is a pretty solid place, especially for being in my hometown. The barbecue is definitely top-notch and really really good and the portions are huge. The beer selection is very impressive, there's about 20 some-odd taps all dedicated to craft brew. A lot of NY craft brew as well as stuff from around the country and the rest of the beer making world. The prices are pretty expensive and the serving sizes (of the beer not the food) are a bit smaller than competitors (10.5oz pour instead of 12oz on some beers, stuff like that). The staff is somewhat knowledgeable but not much in the department of conversation. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area and want a good pint. Everything they have on tap is very good quality and they have a lot of series nights and special beers. Prices on beer could be better and they definitely need happy hour bar prices. (881 characters)

This is THE craft beer destination of Westchester and Putnam Counties. My love affair with Holy Smoke started two years ago when I walked in and was promptly served a pint of Thomas Hooker Liberator, I knew I was on to something very special. Needless to say, the past two years have been a blurry nirvana at the bar of Holy Smoke.

First off, this is the best BBQ you will find for hundreds of miles around, seriously. If that wasn't good enough, they strive to get the best of the best and the rarest of rares when it comes to craft beer. If a brewery makes two kegs of something, one winds up in the basement of Holy Smoke. It is truly a blessing to see a place that has the same passion for craft beer that we do - that same desire to seek out the obscure and adventurous and educate the masses.

Holy Smoke has 24 taps of all craft goodness flowing at all times. They have a bottle list that rivals god's beer cellar in terms of quality, with Vintage bottles that are a perfect compliment to the wonderful food. Growlers are available and unbelievable casks are featured at special events. They host a slew of Brewery Series Nights, where at least 6 taps are designated for the visiting brewery and huge outdoor celebrations in the fall and summer - where kegs go as far as the eye can see! Some recent tap favorites include Ballast Point Sculpin, Pretty Things Jack D'Or, North Coast Pranqster, Captain Lawrence Nor'Easter, Brooklyn Cookie Jar Porter, Troegs Mad Elf, Sierra / Dogfish Life and Limb and a Cask of Sierra Nevada Wet Hopped Harvest. Rumor has it Brooklyn Bourbon barrel aged "Dark Matter" Brewmaster's Reserve soon! You must go for yourself to witness the magic!

From the second you walk in the door, you are welcomed with smiling faces and the scent of native woods hard at work in the smoker. The owner Chris is an amazing Chef and one of the most approachable people you will ever meet, he has an intensity for his cuisine and the craft beer he serves and is always willing to take feedback and tap requests. The entire staff make you feel like you are at home- their charm, comforting food, and knowledge of craft beer is a breath of fresh air in this crazy world. (2,190 characters)

Holy smokes is right! What a place... I walked in a few minutes after they opened on a Saturday afternoon. It also happened to be one of their monthly brewer nights with Victory in the house... they have 18 taps, and when brewers come they give them 6.

As I walk through the door I smell BBQ... not north east BBQ, but real BBQ. The smell is overpowering and actually takes away from my ability to smell the Victory Abbey 6 I started with.

I sat down with the paper, ordered my Abbey 6, and got ready to read the rags and enjoy my beer. But too many good people kept me away. Just great people at the bar, behind the bar, walking in the door, etc. The owner Chris is a champ... pulled out his inventory list to show me the kegs he has downstairs... let's just say on December 2nd Chris is unleashing 16 Belgium's ranging from Deranke XX to St Bernadus Abt 12 to Hopsinjour.

Chris is a hell of a guy, knows his beer, but also knows a crap load about wine and (of course) good f'n food. He puts on a special night every month... today was Victory, next month is Belgium mania, January is Green Flash, etc. During slower times he orders kegs of what his regulars wish for... just a grade A guy.

The company, as I mentioned, was great. People who love beer and conversation were littered around the place. Spent some time talking to a fella named John who spent 9 years at Three Floyds (they are only 12 years old... so let's just say he knows the place)...

You can smell the place coming up on 6N if your windows are down.The owner Chris has put together an amazing selection on tap. All micros and imports, and no macros. Changes fairly often the draft line up. Can even do flights and growlers. Had a few interesting ones - Smuttynose Big beer series Scotch, Miabock and Imperial Russian stout. Had a few Troegs and supports the local brewery Captain Lawerance.

The food is true BBQ to the form. Slow smoked and the portions are beyond intense (entree lasted for a full lunch the next day). The staff is friendly and fun, and the atmosphere is casual and laid back. The food alone is worth the trip, with the beer being a fantastic bonus! (685 characters)

The front door opens directly into the bar area, which was comprised of a few tables and a medium sized bar with 8-9 stools. To the right is a larger rectangular shaped dining area.

There were approximately a dozen taps, which included Acadia London Porter, Southampton Pumpkin ale, Southampton Imperial Porter, Southampton IPA, Stone Oaked Bastard, DFH Punkin', Stone Pale Ale, Storm King Stout, Pikeland Pils, Hennepin and Sierra Nevada Harvest. There was also at least 30 bottles available, including several Belgians. Interestingly enough, Holy Smoke growlers are available to go.

The menu was a full BBQ menu, including pulled pork, beef brisket, ribs, chicken, etc. I had the beef brisket, monterey jack and bacon sandwich with fries and baked beans - not too bad! (833 characters)

24 taps!!! All amazing quality - hard to find beers. Chris has taken it to another level!

Once again, a visit to Holy Smoke (my 4th) has proven to be a wise choice. Chris, the proprietor, has found several solid sources for some very hard-to-find, exceptional beers. His ability to move these beers in big volumes gets him the clout for the inside track on some HOT items.

Once upon a time there was a great beer bar in northern Westchester called the Tap House. One day, without warning, the place shut down, and there went the only place in upper
Westchester county where you could always count on a great selection of fresh, tap beers. There's been quite a void since they closed, but I'm happy to say that things are finally looking up, and leading the way is a wonderful barbecue restaurant called Holy Smoke in Mahopac, NY. Technically, it's in Putnam County, but just about a mile or 2 past the Westchester border (and just a few miles from my house, which is very fortunate indeed..)

In any case, as you can see from the other reviews, the food is excellent, and has been since they opened a few years back. That alone made this place worthwhile (and beware, because as noted elsewhere, the portions are HUGE). But late last year, Chris, the owner, upgraded the beer selection, in a BIG way. They always had a decent bottle selection, but they've gone from 6 to 12 taps and there isn't a stinker among them, every tap is something
special.

I'm partial to hops myself, so imagine how great it was to once again have Hop Devil on tap locally, and more recently, Stone IPA. You're sure to find something you like here, as all styles are well represented, but not only that, Chris has shown that he'll listen to his customers and do what he can to find a beer that you'd like to see there.. What more can you ask for?

Check out the list on his web site, it really is up to the minute with what's available now and what's coming next. And definitely check out the next beer dinner (they're great!), which should be an outdoor event and possibly have live music. Highly recommended. (1,722 characters)

You'll recall that we were going to take in Holy Smoke on Sunday, on the way back from the Belgian Beer thing in October, but then we came back late Saturday night instead so that got nixed. Jay had eaten here and Scott told me that the beer thing was coming along nicely, so it was time to get out here already. Shouted Jay, saw the residence and registers and now we're gearing up for Mahopac via the back roads...

You could smell your way here as there's crazy good smokehouse waftage running down to Route 6. It's a red stand alone structure with a split rail stockade fence corralled patio on the end for exterior warm weather seating. A small "L" shaped bar inside seats 5. Mirrored back sectional units with shelving holding booze & bottled beer selections and a pair of towers of 6 taps each on the bar. A handful of bar tables here and there, and TV's mounted in all corners. The attached dining area is a large square room with wood plank floors and paneled windows with center wreaths. About a dozen and a half square red & white checkerboard clothed covered tables and a roundie in the far corners, green chairs, wagon wheel chandelier lighting, ceiling fans, mounted lamps, and small prints and dessert & macro boards on the walls. Décor is country, simple.

We split a jumbo BBQ wing app and then I had the pulled pork & St. Louis ribs combo, garlic smashed potatoes & Creole corn sides. It was just a huge mountain of food and it was all top notch BBQ. Wings and ribs were fall off the bone and the sauces were excellent. Everything, all of it.

Slander thought it would be a good idea to take a detour out here after hitting Captain Lawrence on Saturday. Putnam County can't be far away, right? Thank god it's far enough away that I can't order takeout from this place, or I'd end up looking like Paul Prudhomme.

As far as the beer goes, the tap selection was good, they had four 'flights' on the menu, a good bottle selection and even some "cellars" (World Wide Stout, the Capt. Lawrence belgian, and a couple others.) They keep their bottle-and-tap list pretty up-to-date on the web. The place is cozy, looks like what you'd expect a BBQ place to look like (red barn, wood paneling, y'know.)

Anyway, all that stuff can be perused on their web site. As for the food... well here's how it works:
1 - polite and fun waitress seats you at the table
2 - she secretly sizes up your head using the lost science of phrenology
3 - after you order your (first round) beer, on her way to get the beer she gives your head measurement to the kitchen staff
4 - she brings out the beer, and takes your order
5 - after receiving your order, the kitchen staff piles a plate with twice the amount of food as the size of your head
6 - you get a championship meal of awesome BBQ that is impossible to finish in one sitting, unless you've been touring the hot-dog eating circuit for a couple years
7 - you later get teased for being a "nancy boy" for not even making it through half of your plate.

No kidding. I hadn't eaten anything before going there, I ordered a two-item combo (beef brisket and ribs with 2 sides) and it ended up lasting me 3 MEALS. And, it was great BBQ. Yeah, we had one appetizer, but still... Chris (the proprietor?) believes in serving you up all the food you can eat and then some. I think the pictures on the web are kids' meals or something.

An outstanding place that's definitely worth a visit, even a long drive if you've never been. And he wants to do a beer fest out there. Bring your spare stomach (1,986 characters)

This Putnam county spot is just a few miles north of the Jefferson Valley mall. BBQ was quite tasty, the Baby back ribs were nicely spiced, tender, moist, etc, you get the picture. Typical BBQ menu, pretty warm and inviting place, front bar with a few TV screens and a medium sized dining room. the beer excitement here is to be found in the bottled selections, they total about 40 and include plenty of hoppy brews, Belgians etc. DFH, Stone AB, Anchor, Rodenbach etc etc, for all the details go to their web site, as they have their beer list all nicely posted, always a plus for those of us with a lazy beer memory. Taps need some help as the "highlights" were Bklyn Lager, Sams O'fest, and 4 unmentionables...yawn...Anyway this place is about 7 miles from my house, the owner was real friendly, aware of and a fan of B.A. and interested in hosting some sort of beer fest in the spring. We'll have to get thinking about how to best help make this type of local event a reality. If you like good BBQ washed down by a BA worthy brew, and you find yourself in Northern Westchester/Putnam county in N.Y. State, this is a worthwhile destination and watering hole.review update 9-09I have not gotten a warm and fuzzy feeling from the owner of this place for quite a while. Down right arrogant if you ask me. I offered a few ideas via e-mail and was flatly insulted by the response I recieved, so much for the customer always being right...so I have down rated this place in a few areas...to me the athmosphere is cold and uninviting, and the attitude I recieved from the owner is downright unfriendly...what can ya do?...so be it...

re re review: 10-11..After staying away for a few years, friends convinced me to take another visit. What is undeniable is the tasty Q and the impressive selection. Best BBQ in the area and best draft selection...a tough combo to stay away from...last few visits the service has been friendly and quick, portions on the huge side and the draft choices quite impressive...another plus is that they always have the game on...down grade for cheesy '80s rock that also sadly always sems to be on...def worth a visit if in the area.Frosted glasses? Dirty glasses with tons of bubbles..... C'mon HS stày classy (2,240 characters)